Chapter 3: Oh Yeah, It's All Coming Together. -Kronk

Bryan woke early the next morning as sunlight filtered in through their dorm window. His ears perked up as he reorientated himself. The rabbit immediately became aware of Jason's sleeping form in the other bed. The wolf has kicked off most of his covers during the night, leaving his muscular frame barely covered by his boxers.

Don't stare, don't stare, Bryan berated himself, forcing his eyes to look away. After last night's conversation, everything felt different - charged with new meaning. Maybe he and Jason couldn't start over, but maybe they could make things work. At least until one of them could get a different room assignment. Bryan glanced at his phone: 6:30 AM. He still had plenty of time before his first class.

The rabbit moved quietly and gathered up his toiletry bag. His nose twitched as he caught Jason's scent - a mixture of wolf musk and lavender. It was probably some form of body wash or fur conditioner the rabbit thought. The memory of last night's conversation made his ears burn hot. Afterward, all through the night, Bryan had floated from one dream to the next.

In his first dream, he was getting beat up by members of the football team, only to be rescued by Jason in his boxers. In his next dream, the two were star-crossed lovers - speaking in rhyme and avoiding their family's feud. Then in his last dream him and Jason were fighting - tumbling down a hillside, rolling towards a cliff edge. Needless to say, Bryan had tossed and turned throughout the night. Which are this point was probably going to become the rabbit's new norm. Bryan felt he hadn't slept well since coming to college. He felt more tired and more irritable than normal. Which just highlighted that the sleep deprivation was starting to get to him.

As Bryan reached for the door handle, he paused hearing Jason shift in his sleep. The large wolf let out a soft whimper. Looks like someone else was also having some vivid dreams, Bryan thought to himself as he looked over at the still sleeping form of his roommate. Jason lay on his side, his foot twitching sporadically as it hung off the end of his bed.

The wolf's tail twitched, and then Jason rolled over onto his back. A visible tent pole in his boxers jutted up prominently from between his legs. Bryan swallowed heavily and nearly choked. Just calm down, Bryan told himself, it's just morning wood, perfectly natural, nothing wrong with…"

Jason let out another whimper and his boxers noticeably strained as the wolf's shaft pushed up against the fabric.

“Nope, nope nope nopity nope…." Brayan said under his breath as hurriedly slipped out the door and rushed off to the showers. The door closed loudly behind Bryan, who was already halfway down the hall. Bryan flinched at the unexpected loud noise, glanced back, and then quickened his pace toward the showers.

Jason tensed as he woke up, startled by the noise. He glanced around at the empty room and relaxed again as he confirmed that he was alone. With a loud yawn, the wolf stretched as he looked around again. This time Jason let his eyes slowly take everything in.

It was only him in the room as the sunlight filtered in through the blinds. Bryan had left some clothes laid out on his bed. Obviously he was off showering or freshing up. It was a good thing he wasn't around.

It was good because Jason was immediately aware of a throbbing issue straining against his boxers. The wolf glanced around, reached down and rearranged himself so that he was more comfortable. He probably had a bit of time to rub one out of he was quick.

Jason debated with himself. His mind drifted back to his and Bryan's conversation the night before. They hadn't set a new rule for alone time yet, but the wolf felt pretty confident that shower time or class time was fair game. Jason had all but said as much before he went to sleep.

As Jason began to justify his alone time, the wolf idly slipped his paw beneath the waistband of his boxers. He wrapped his fingers around his shaft and squeezed softly. His hard cock pulsed in his paw. Damn, I need to get laid, Jason thought to himself as he slowly began stroking his fingers up and down his length.

His dreams had been especially vivid through the night and he was already fully aroused. Jason usually didn't dream, at least not that he normally remembered. But last night he kept getting flashes of his fingers roaming soft furred curves. Slim muscles that fit in his paws perfectly as his lover, his prey, rubbed up and down his shaft.

Jason pulled his boxers down, his thick cock springing free. The wolf wrapped his paw around his veiny shaft and started rubbing himself again with slow, firm strokes. His other paw cupped and massaged his heavy balls as his pleasure slowly started to build.

The longer he was awake the harder it was for Jason to remember his dream. Jason was having trouble concentrating. He tried to picture Christine, his off-again-on-again girlfriend from high school. She had been an Iberian wolf on the cheerleader squad. They were each other's firsts, but they were also like water and oil. She hab been his last relationship and was his recent ex.

Jason struggled to picture her naked, riding on top of his lap, his muzzle buried in her chest. But his mind kept veering off to their last day together. Their massive fight and his broken window. His paw froze mid-stroke as he bared his teeth in frustration. Jason clenched his eyes shut and tried to picture his dreams again. He tried to focus on the chase. The slim figure that kept just out of reach of his paws. Short soft fur on a round firm ass. Maybe a feline?

“Mmm, Jessica." The wolf moaned.

Jason scrunched his nose up. That didn't quite seem right either, but he continued. He brought his paw up to his muzzle and slowly licked it, coating his palm in saliva. Then he rubbed his paw down his length, the slick surface of his paw gliding over and wet the hard rod of flesh of his cock.

The wolf's breath started to become heavier as he increased his pace, his knot beginning to swell at his base. Jason had already been worked up and he was not going to last much longer. Pre-cum began to bead and run down from his tip, making his strokes even slicker. His tail twitched and thumped sporadically with each movement as he worked himself closer and closer to release.

In Jason's mind, his prey was pinned underneath him. Hips straddling his sides as he pushed his shaft into a warm tight space that enveloped his length whole. His tongue darted into his lover's mouth tasting them. Jason inhaled deeply through his nose. He smelled himself, obviously, and his lavender body wash. But he also smelt other scents that his mind began to run wild with. Old books and paper, ink, and freshly washed clothes. Jason's muscles tensed as he approached his peak, his knot now fully swollen. He kept trying to picture the soft fur underneath him. The slender muscles gripped possessively within his paws.

There was also another musky scent in the room, male but faded. A salty slightly acrid smell but also earthy and warm like Christmas spices- cinnamon and nutmeg. Jason scrunched up his eyes in concentration as his paw began to move faster and faster. Up and down his slick pulsating length. In his fantasy, the wolf's tongue ran along his lover's neck tasting that warm scent, begging for the wolf to bite down and leave his mark. Jason was nearing his release, quickly passing the point of no return. His paws squeezed round firm ass checks and his thumbs brushed against a small pointed bunny tail.

“Mmm, Bryan." Jason moaned and with a few final strokes, he climaxed hard, thick ropes of cum shooting out from his tip and painting his neck, chest, and abs. Jason whimpered as he tried to muffle his growls of pleasure.

Just then Bryan opened the door, carrying his toiletry bag. “Did you say something Ja…."

Jason's eyes shot open in surprise. Byran and Jason's gazes locked onto one another as a final spurt of cum painted the wolf's abs.

"Oh... fuck," Bryan squeaked, his ears shooting straight up in shock.

"Shit," Jason said as fumbled on his bed, trying to quickly pull his boxers back up over himself. Then he scrambled to sit up, his face and ears burning red with embarrassment. "Bro, rule 3!"

Bryan stood frozen in the doorway, his paw still gripping his towel as his nose twitched rapidly. His ears burned hot with embarrassment, but he couldn't seem to look away from Jason's muscular form and the evidence of what just happened.

"I... you... but..." Bryan stammered, his usual wit failing him completely. "You said rule 3 was for when you had a girl over!"

The rabbit's heart pounded in his chest as he caught the musky scent filling the room. His heart beat faster, betraying his body's reaction to the situation.

"Just... give me a minute, and close the fucking door!" Jason growled, still trying to adjust himself beneath his boxers. The wolf was clearly panicking after being caught.

Oh shit, this is actually happening, Bryan thought, his paws trembling slightly as he clutched his toiletry bag tighter.

“Dude! Door!" Jason snarled loudly as he grabbed the shirt that he wore yesterday and wiped himself off. The wolf tossed it onto the floor before heading to the closet and grabbing a wrinkled but fresh pair of clothes.

Bryan's brain finally caught up to the situation and he stepped in and closed the door behind him. Then he pressed himself against the wall.

"Eh - look. Don't make this weird alright. It's fine, I'm fine, it happens." Jason hurriedly said glancing back at where the rabbit stood.

Bryan couldn't tell if his roommate was angry or nervous, or both.

When Bryan didn't respond Jason continued." Fuck, look we'll call it even okay" The wolf glanced at his phone clock. “ Fuck, I gotta get to classes. Just be cool about this. Just- shit…"

Bryan stood rooted to the spot, still dumbfounded and watching as Jason hastily dressed himself. The rabbit's nose continued to twitch rapidly, picking up the lingering scent of the wolf's recent emissions in the air.

"Even?" Bryan managed to squeak out, his voice higher than usual. "That's... that's not exactly..."

The rabbit still stood clutching his toiletry bag. Still coming to terms with the situation as Jason moved around the room. His ears remained perked up, following Jason's movements while trying not to stare too obviously at the wolf's frantic semi-nude form.

This is not how I expected this morning to go, Bryan thought, his still heart racing. The memory of what he just walked in on became burned forever into his memory.

"Right. Classes. Yes. That's... that's a thing we both need to do," Bryan stammered, finally stepping away from the wall into the room but maintaining his distance from Jason.

Jason quickly grabbed his book bag and rushed out past Bryan, leaving the rabbit alone in the room without saying another word. The wolf's ears were folded back and his tail drooped low towards the floor as he slammed the door behind him.

Bryan flinched as the door slammed closed but otherwise stood where he had been in the room. The rabbit was uncertain of what he should do, his nose nervously twitching as he processed what just happened. The musky scent of wolf and sex lingered heavily in the air, making the rabbit's head spin.

"Oh Damn," Bryan whispered to himself, his ears still burning hot. He glanced over to Jason's discarded shirt on the floor and quickly looked away, trying not to think about what it was just used for.

This is not how roommates are supposed to work, Bryan thought to himself, finally moving to his small dresser to grab the rest of his clothes. His paws still trembled slightly as he pulled out an overshirt. First, he caught me, then I caught him... and now we're "even"?

The rabbit's sensitive nose kept picking up Jason's scent, making it impossible to think about anything else besides what he just witnessed. The image of Jason's impressive size and swollen knot flashed through Bryan's mind. Bryan didn't even think it was possible for someone to be that big, down there. Not unless they were a pornstar on the internet.

"I am so screwed," Bryan muttered as he started getting dressed for class, knowing full well he would have to face Jason again eventually. "Literally and figuratively screwed."

As Bryan pulled his overshirt on he paused as he once again saw Jason's discarded shirt on the floor. He cautiously looked around the room even though he knew he was alone. Bryan's paws trembled as he approached the discarded shirt. There was a real sense of forbidden thrill that became more intense the closer the rabbit got.

The rabbit's heart pounded in his chest as he slowly bent down and picked up the discarded garment. The unmistakable male scent became even stronger up close. It was earthy, primal, and undeniably Jason. It was intoxicating, a heady mixture of sweat and something distinctly wolf that made Bryan's head spin.

The fabric was soft in Bryan's paws. His ears drooped with shame as he brought the shirt closer to his face, inhaling deeply. His nose picked up the various layers of scent - Jason's natural musk, his body wash, and... something else. Something that made Bryan's ears burn hot as he thought of exactly what this shirt was used for just minutes ago.

Why am I even considering this? Bryan wondered as his paws gripped the fabric tighter. The rational part of his mind screamed at him to drop the shirt, to pretend none of this ever happened. But there's another part of him, a part that was growing stronger by the second, that wanted more.

A white streak on the fabric caught Bryan's eye and his tongue darted out before he could stop himself, taking a tentative taste. It was... different than he expected. Salty, musky, distinctly predator. Bryan's ears burned hotter as he realized he didn't hate it. If anything, it made him want more. It felt so wrong yet so right. Bryan's heart was racing as he took another taste. He knew he was crossing a line, knew this was probably weird and creepy and exactly the kind of thing that would freak Jason out if he ever found out. But at this moment, alone in their room with Jason's scent filling his nose and the wolf's taste on his tongue, Bryan couldn't force himself to care.

What if he finds out? The thought hit Bryan suddenly, making him freeze. His ears shot up in alarm as he realized what he was doing. What he was just tasting. The shirt fell from his trembling paws as reality came crashing back upon him.

"Oh shit, what am I doing?" Bryan whispered to himself, backing away from the shirt as if it might bite him. His nose was still saturated with the wolf's lingering scent. His tongue still tasted the salty sweet fluid. The rabbit quickly grabbed his bag, needing to escape the room and the evidence of what he had just done. As Bryan rushed out the door, Bryan couldn't help but wonder if this was what Jason meant by them being "even" now. Somehow, he doubted this was what the wolf had in mind.

Just outside the student dorm building, Jason practically ran to his first class, Business Analytics. The cool morning wind did little to cool his hot cheeks and ears.

The wolf was one of the first students to enter the lecture hall. As Jason found a seat and sat down his stomach protested the lack of food loudly, grumbling and gurgling.

Jason groaned and rested his head down on the counter in front of his seat. He let out and took in a deep breath, instantly smelling his own lewd scent still radiating from his chest. The wolf's checks and ears flushed anew as he quickly stood up. A deer a few rows below him looked up from her book startled by the noise. Jason awkwardly rubbed his arm as he quickly made for the classroom door and rushed off to the student bathrooms.

Jason easily navigated the crowded hallway and slipped into the male bathroom. There he grabbed handfuls of paper towels, wet them in the sink, and pulled his shirt up. Jason then proceeded to wash down his front section as best he could. He splashed water up from the faucet onto himself with his paws and even used some of the hand soap from the nearby dispenser. The wolf had the front of his shirt carefully held in his teeth and he wiped around his belly button. A sudden movement caught his attention and he glanced up in the mirror to see another student stopped in the doorway staring at him in confusion.

“Heh, uh- split my drink," Jason said between gritted teeth as he tried to look as innocent as possible.

The other student slowly backed out of the restroom. Jason sighed in defeat as he started to dry himself off with handfuls of paper towels the best he could. Five or so minutes later he returned to his seat, smelling more now of wet fur than his previous musk. The other students had arrived by then and more continued to filter in by the minute until the clock reached the top of the hour and the teacher strolled up to the podium.

As the class began, Jason found it hard to concentrate on anything going on around him. His mind kept replaying the morning's events, making it impossible to focus on the professor's lecture about spreadsheet formulas. The wolf's ears remained slightly flattened, a sign of his discomfort as he absently doodled in his notebook. Before he realized it the professor had closed his book and dismissed everyone. All Jason had managed to scribble down the entire lecture were pictures of footballs and poorly drawn stick figures.

Leaving class, Jason spotted a familiar pair of long ears down the hallway. Bryan was walking towards him from the opposite direction. The rabbit's nose twitched, likely picking up Jason's scent. As Bryan looked around, their eyes met briefly before they both quickly looked away. The wolf turned and bolted out of an adjacent side door that led to a small courtyard. It was the complete opposite direction of Jason's next class. Which made Jason then have to take the long way to his next class, nearly causing him to be late.

All throughout his next class, Jason felt awkward and that awkwardness slowly pissed him off. He kept clicking all the lead out of his mechanical pencil over and over again. This time when the instructor dismissed everyone, Jaso groaned. He had tried to pay attention, he really did. But he still wasn't sure what the class was about. Jason felt like he was already falling behind.

After he had walked out of the classroom Jason began pacing back and forth in one of the many courtyards between the various halls. He was finished with classes for the day and had no idea what he was doing. He thought about going back to the dorms, but he didn't want to risk running into Bryan there. Not yet at least. As Jason debated his next move, his stomach rumbled loudly in protest. Jason idly rubbed his stomach and thought about what he should eat.

There had to be a few local places around he could head to. Someplace not too far away but still outside of campus. Jason pulled out his phone and did a quick search for local restaurants. He wasn't disappointed in the results. The wolf picked the nearest one with the highest user ratings and then went to check how much cash he had in his wallet. His wallet that wasn't in his front pants pocket, or his rear pants pockets, or his backpack. He sighed in defeat. He must have left it back in his dorm room when he was scrambling to leave.

“This is why you need to set up tap pay idiot," Jason berated himself.

His stomach rumbled loudly again as his ears folded down. That left him only one choice. Jason headed to the student cafeteria. Since he already had to go to the dorms he might as well eat there. At least it didn't cost him any money. Technically food was included with room and board. There were different meal plans that were available depending on species and dietary restrictions. All a student had to do was type their room number and student pin into the kiosk and bam, food. Normally Jason didn't pay that much attention to school stuff, but the meal plan had been one of the major perks of his scholarship. At least in the wolf's opinion.

Jason walked back to his dorm with his bookbag hitched high on his shoulder and head low as he went and stood in line for the self-service food bar. When he didn't spot anyone familiar around he relaxed. The wolf was halfway through loading his tray with a particularly good looking meatloaf when he spotted Bryan sitting alone in the corner, nose buried in a textbook. The rabbit's ears were flat and drooped. Bryan seemed completely oblivious to everything around him. But just to be safe, Jason sat on the other side of the cafeteria.

Even though Jason tried his best to only focus on his plate, he couldn't help but steal glances over at the rabbit. Why am I even thinking about this so much? Jason wondered. Even though his stomach still grumbled in protest he had yet to do more than push his food around his plate. The memory of Bryan walking in on him that morning and their eyes locking onto each other's flashed through his mind, making his ears burn hot.

A lunch tray plopped down next to him and nearly caused Jason to yelp in surprise.

Mike, the brown bear front lineman from his team, looked him up and down quizzically.

“Jumpy much?" The bear said in a gruff rumbly voice as he sat down next to Jason. The table noticeably sagged under his added weight.

Jason tried to force himself to appear normal, only mildly succeeding.

ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

“Ha, yeah. Just first day jitters."

“What have you been doing for the last three days then?" Mike asked as he began to dig into one of the several hamburgers on his tray.

“Week!" Jason backpedaled, “First week jitters."

Mike let out a chuckle, “Relax newbie, it gets easier. And as long as you get results on the field, Coach will take care of you."

Jason let out an awkward laugh," Yeah? You think so."

“Please, the football team is the only reason this college is even on the map. Everyone and their parents know that." Mike said between bites.

Jason nodded, actually feeling a bit relieved by that bit of information. Even if he was a screw up then at least the coach would bail him out.

The bear turned and looked at Jason who was still playing with his food. “Something else bothering you Fields?"

Jason didn't respond but just shrugged.

“Roommate?"

Jason froze, his heart skipping a beat.

“Yep, thought so. Look if the dude makes you uncomfortable then just file a complaint with student admissions. And if he does something out of line, report him and they'll take care of it. Easy as that."

Jason swallowed hard.

“He didn't do anything to you did he?"

Jason looked over at Mike, expecting the bear to be making fun of him. But Mike seemed to be genuinely concerned.

“No," Jason finally said. “Nothing like that. I'm not even sure he's gay. I think the last guy just made that up to fuck with him. Just a dude being a dickhead or something. Besides being a giant nerd, nothing wrong with the guy. Really, I'm just trying to get used to things around here."

“Huh," Mike said as he took another bite of his hamburger and nodded, “yeah, I could see that happening."

Jason's eye twitched. Could it be that easy? The wolf thought to himself. Jason had suddenly lost his appetite and very much wanted to be anywhere else but where he was at that moment.

“Anyways thanks for the concern man, but I gotta get going to my next class."

Mike glanced down at the wolf's tray." You hardly touched your food?"

“Yeah, big breakfast," Jason said, lying again. Was this what he was now, was he a liar? He berated himself in his head.

Mike shrugged," Alright, leave it- I'll finish it up for you." The bear went back to eating his second hamburger.

The wolf hesitated as he glanced longingly at his tray of food. Then he let out a sigh.

“Sure man, enjoy," Jason said as he got up to leave. He glanced down at his untouched tray once more and then over to where Bryan had been sitting. The spot was empty, Bryan was gone. Jason looked at the tray again feeling hungry and disappointed.

Instead of heading back upstairs to his room, Jason chose instead to go to the campus library. Maybe he could find a quiet spot to be alone and try reading through his course syllabuses, syllabi? syllabucies?

Jason shook his head in frustration. Whatever the papers they had handed out were, he needed to review them.

As he walked into the library the wolf wrinkled his nose. The two story building smelled of dust, paper, and ink. Kind of like how Bryan smelt.

“Tsk," Jason said under his breath with a scowl as he headed up to a secluded corner of the second floor.

The library was mostly empty this time of day and Jason plopped down at a table. He pulled out the syllabuses from his classes and began to read them over. He didn't understand what half of what was listed meant.

Required textbooks, printed workbooks, test Scantron sheets, grade point percentages, and point curve policies. Jason felt like he had most of, if not all of his required supplies but why did every course have to be so drastically different? How was anyone supposed to keep up with all of that? He was surprised to learn that attendance wasn't mandatory. Jason only had to show up for tests and the final to pass. That was a load of stress off his shoulders. Jason went to review his notes from class and then quickly remembered that he hadn't taken any as he flipped through page after page of stick figure doodles. Then Jason pulled out his phone and started browsing his social media. He lost track of the time until his ears perked up at a voice walking up the stairs to the library's second floor.

It was Bryan, and he was talking to someone Jason didn't recognize.

“You have got to be shitting me," Jason said under his breath as he glanced around.

The stairway and an ancient looking elevator were the only ways up or down from the second story. Bryan's voice was growing louder by the second. Jason quickly scooped all of his papers on the desk and shoved them back into his book bag. Crumbling up several of them as he crammed everything inside it in a hurry. Then the wolf grabbed his book bag and quickly darted into one of the book isles, getting out of sight.

“I just don't think it's right for me," Bryan said as he stepped onto the second floor landing.

Jason turned behind one of the book aisle end caps and strained his ears to try and get an idea of where the rabbit was going.

“No, I haven't signed up for any extracurriculars yet. Hold up, gotta grab something real quick." Jason heard Bryan say.

Jason's heart was beating fast. The rabbit sounded close but the sounds were bouncing off the book isles and he wasn't quite sure of where it was coming from.

Jason turned around and quickly stepped around a corner. And collided right into Bryan, the books the rabbit was carrying tumbling to the floor.

“Awww- come on," Jason said in an exasperated voice. “How the hell can you be everywhere? Really How?!?"

Bryan blinked up at Jason, confused and at a loss for words."Wha- What?"

Several shushing sounds came from around the library because of the sudden loud noises.

Jason's face and ears burned with embarrassment as he glared down at Bryan. The rabbit still blinking rapidly trying to process the latest events.

Just then a small spotted feline said something and then ran up to Bryan, crouching down by his side.

“Oh man, are you alright?" The feline asked.

“I, well. I was-am, Yes?" Bryans stuttered and stumbled over his words.

Jason let out a low growl as he turned and stormed off.

“What's his problem?" Jason heard the small feline say as he headed toward the stairs.

Jason didn't stop until he made it outside into the open air. Once outside he turned and headed for the football field. If there was one place, just one place he could relax, that was it. He walked up to the field but the fence was locked.

Jason tugged at the chain with his paw. The lock rattled against the fence gate, old but solid.

“Great, just fucking great," Jason said as he turned around and leaned back against the fence. The wolf let himself sink to the ground so that he was sitting, staring back out towards campus.

Jason rubbed his face with his paws and rested his chin on his knee, closing his eyes.

He tried to focus on his breathing. In and out. In and out.

“Hey!"

Jason heard a feminine voice off in the distance but he didn't lift his head or open his eyes.

“Hey! Jason!."

He heard the same voice again only this time louder.

He opened one eye and looked toward where he thought the voice had come from.

A cat was jogging towards him waving her paw in the air. It was Jessica, one of the cheerleaders he had met during orientation.

Jason raised his head and waved back from where he sat on the grass.

Jessica came to a stop a few feet away from him. Jason hadn't recognized her at first because she was in her street clothes and not her cheerleader uniform.

“Hey," Jessica said with a smile.

“Hey," Jason responded.

“Whatcha doin' out here? Field and stadium are locked up Tuesdays and Thursdays. Remember… orientation?"

“Oh. Yeah, right. I was just going to go for a run but umm, yeah locked gate." Jason replied as he pushed himself back up onto his feet and brushed off his pants. He did vaguely recall something about the field being locked up on off days now that she mentioned it.

“Well- hey, there's always the student gym yeah? It's open 24/7 to students and faculty."

“That.. that's actually a great idea," Jason said with a smile as he readjusted his book bag on his shoulder. “Thanks."

“Hey, don't mention it," Jessica replied as she held her paws behind her back.

Jason took a moment to look Jessica over. Her blue jeans were tight fitting and had torn knees. Her tail was bushy but well brushed. Her shirt was a baggy picture shirt with a wide collar that showed off the top of her breasts.

Jessica cleared her throat. “You know normally this would be a good time to ask me out for coffee and a snack. If you're done checking me out."

“Hmm?" Jason said, caught off guard.

“You, me, coffee and a snack," Jessica repeated with a playful grin.

“Oh hell yeah. I mean yes. Yes, that would be.. would you want to get some coffee and a snack then?" Jason said quickly adding, “With me?"

Jessica giggled. “I'd love to."

The two of them walked back side by side to campus. Each took turns telling the other about the classes that they were enrolled in. Jason hadn't known that the campus had a coffee shop on premise, but apparently, it was one of Jessica's favorite places.

As the sun began to set, they walked into a small cage and were immediately greeted with the smell of warm pastries and hot coffee. The smells made Jason's stomach grumble loudly.

Jason rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed, but Jessica just laughed it off.

As they approved the counter and placed their orders Jason suddenly remembered that he still didn't have his wallet on him.

“Shit," Jason said under his breath as he instinctively patted down his pockets.

“Hmm? Something wrong" Jessica asked.

“I umm, I forgot my wallet back in my room."

Jessica smirked and let out a small laugh," Don't worry about it. I got you."

She turned and pulled her phone out of her pocket, tapping it to the pay pad and hitting a tip option.

The barista behind the counter handed her two large drinks and she turned and held one out to Jason.

“There, now you owe me dinner."

Jason reached out and grabbed the cup from her.

“Damn, that's smooth," Jason said before blinking and then glancing down at the coffee cup. He quickly pulled it closer so that he wasn't standing there staring like a complete idiot.

Jessica tossed her hair back and walked over toward a table."Thanks. Feel free to use it in the future if you need a good pickup move."

Jason quickly followed and sat across the table from her. The two of them quickly fell back into their previous conversation.

“I'm not sure I would have pegged you for a business major," Jessica said as she stopped her drink.

Jason had his drink lid off and was softly blowing on it.

“Yeah, it's what my aptitude test said I was best suited for. So I just kind of went with it."

“Well, what sort of business are you interested in?"

“Hmm?" Jason replied raising an eyebrow.

“A business major is for managing a business yeah? So what sort of business would you want to manage?"

“Oh, well. There are a few options I guess." Jason brought his cup up to his lips and took a few slow sips to buy him some extra time. The liquid was still far too hot.

Jason looked around the room, trying to think about what he could say. That was when Bryan walked into the cafe. The wolf nearly choked on his drink, barely recovering.

“You've got to be kidding me," he muttered in disbelief.

“Hmm?" Jessica said as she looked at him with a confused look before turning her head in the direction of Jason's gaze.

“Nothing! Heh yeah, nothing." Jason tried to recover but Jessica saw Bryan standing in line.

“Hey, isn't that your roommate?"

“Yes," Jason muttered under his breath.

“I keep running into him wherever I go. It's like I can't get away from the guy."

“Wow, like he's stalking you?" Jessica said turning sideways in her chair so that she could keep an eye on both Jason and Bryan.

“No, not really. More like a sick joke the universe is trying to make or something."

Jessica took another sip from her drink as they both watched Bryan place his order. The bunny paid with a card from his wallet and then turned away from the counter.

Bryan froze and he spotted Jason and Jessica staring at him. The rabbit's ears dropped and his eyes widened in surprise. Then Bryan turned around and walked out of the cafe. Not even bothering to wait for his drink.

“Well, that was weird," Jessica said.

Jason just let out a sigh.

“You don't think he's creeping on you do you?"

Bryan's whimpers from the other day and the rabbit's smell flashed through Jason's mind as his ears flushed slightly.

Jason cleared his throat and ran his paw over his head. Jessica looked back over at him. If she noticed anything, she didn't say anything.

“Erhm, No. Nothing like that." Jason said. “Really."

Jason continued with his prepared speech, “Besides I don't even think the guy is gay. I talked with him the other day and apparently, his last roommate just made it up. Just some jerk bullying the guy."

“I dunno," Jessica responded," I don't think that's something Ryan would do."

“Ryan?" Jason asked, confused.

“Yeah, his previous roommate. I mean we didn't really know each other - but we did go to high school together."

Jason almost squeezed his drink a little too tightly as his mind went into overdrive trying to come up with something to say.

“Huh- well, who knows? Bryan seemed pretty straight to me. The dude even kept me up most of the night talking on the phone to his girlfriend back home."

Who even are you right now? Jason's inner voice berated him.

“Huh really? That's so sweet." Jessica said with a giggle and she sipped her drink again.

“Veronica! Her name's Veronica and she's a farmer from Brambleton. Works with her parents. Family business, been there for generations- I guess.…"

Jason suddenly found the inside of his coffee cup very interesting.

“Well, okay--- then…guess that settles that," Jessica said. “You know we had a bet going that…"

The cat's wristwatch vibrated and beeped repeatedly.

“Oh shoot. I gotta get to my last class." Jessica said as she stood up and grabbed her bag.

She paused as Jason looked up at her with a blank expression.

Jessica giggled and rolled her eyes.

“You're cute. Here." Jessica said as she took a pen out from her pocket, reached over, and grabbed Jason's cup. She wrote down her phone number and then sat the cup back down in front of the wolf.

“I like Italian," Jessica said with a wink before turning and walking away.

Jason's mouth was slightly agape as he slowly reached forward and grabbed his cup.

College girls are on a whole nother level aren't they, he thought to himself.

Veronica!?!? From Brambleton?!? His inner voice shot back. The wolf closed his eyes and let out a groan.

After Jason spent a few moments collecting himself he stood up and went to leave. On his way to the door, he paused and turned towards the counter.

A drink order sat on the counter, still steaming. The label had Bryan's name written on it. It was a double macchiato with hazelnut and a dash of almond milk.

Jason walked over grabbed the drink and then turned and headed back toward the student dorms. The sun had already set as Jason went back outside. Jason hiked his backpack further up onto his shoulder as walkway lights began to flicker on around him.

This is getting ridiculous, Jason thought to himself as he walked back. We live together. We can't keep avoiding each other forever. The wolf drug his feet as he walked, replaying the morning's incident in his mind for the umpteenth time. Jason had clearly made things weird between them, again- and the wolf wasn't sure how to fix it. The memory of Bryan's shocked expression, standing there in the doorway, their eyes locking onto one another's.

Jason shook his head to clear his thoughts. Maybe I should have said something more this morning, Jason thought as he climbed the stairs to their floor. But what do you even say in that situation? As he approached their room, Jason's sensitive nose picked up Bryan's lingering scent. Something about it seemed different now, charged with new meaning after the day's events. The wolf paused at the door, key in paw.

Jason relaxed slightly because he knew the room was empty. The smell was old. There was no light showing under the door and he didn't hear any sound from inside. He wondered if Bryan would come back tonight or if he would find somewhere else to stay to avoid another awkward encounter. Either way, Jason knew they would have to face each other eventually. They were roommates after all. But for now, he pushed open the door to their empty room. The wolf tried not to think about how Bryan's scent seemed to be everywhere, or how his nose could still pick up traces of his early morning activity.

Jason sat Bryan's cup down on the rabbit's desk and then dropped his bag on the floor. He ran a paw through his headfur in frustration. It was going to be a long semester if they couldn't figure out how to move past this.